For Books’ Sake

Championing writing by women

Galaxy National Book Awards 2011: Winners

7th Nov 2011

The winners of the awards are selected by the 750-strong Galaxy National Book Awards Academy, with representatives from all sectors of the book industry, from retailer chain buyers, independent booksellers, wholesalers, reviewers and trade press columnists.

The book that got everyone talking this year, Caitlin Moran’s How To Be a Woman, won the More4 Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year, beating off competition from Brian Cox’s Wonders of the Universe. She said: “Brian Cox may have the Wonders of the Universe to play with, I had the contents of my bra and pants and, ultimately, they were obviously the more mysterious and awesome.”

Back in February, we reviewed Sarah Winman’s When God was a Rabbit, predicting that “the original and distinctive voice means it’s certain to win its fair share of fans.” Whaddya know, Sarah Winman only went and picked up the award for Galaxy New Writer of the Year!

Emma Donoghue’s Roomcontinues to pick up awards, nabbing the WH Smith Paperback of the Year, and Dawn French, Louisa Young, Claire Tomalin and Jennifer Egan were winners in the Popular Fiction, Audiobook, Biography and International Author categories respectively. The Oustanding Achievement Award went to queen of the glitzy bonkbuster, Jackie Collins.

Voting is now open for readers to choose their overall Book of the Year from the 11 winners, deadline is 20th December. Who gets your vote?